Local News

Water is hot topic in Wiggins

Board revamps watering schedule

A standing-room only crowd filled Town Hall in Wiggins during the Board of Trustees Wednesday night meeting, with most concerned with one specific agenda item; watering schedules.

Many residents stood before the Board to ask the town to change the current watering schedules and the discussion soon turned to action as the town prepared an ordinance to adopt new watering times for residents.

The new watering schedule, when approved, will allow citizens to water three days per week, for three hours each day instead of the previous four hour allowance. The schedule will have even numbered houses watering Monday, Thursday and Saturday and odd numbers watering Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Those with automated sprinklers will be able to water between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m., and those with hose watering systems can water from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"It gets so dark for some of us older folks to be out there dealing with our sprinklers so late at night," noted Wiggins resident Pam Olson as she spoke before the Board. The previous shut off time was 10 p.m.

Another Wiggins resident noted that the previous time between watering days, a span which ran between Tuesday and Saturday, was simply too lengthy. Her request included the Town allowing three hours of water, three days a week.

"I don't think the impact will be noticeable," said Administrator Jim Musgrave when asked what the impact might be on Wiggins water resources. "The water tank has been holding and keeping up. The lowest its gone this year is 26 feet, which is far better than last year."

The official ordinance will be adopted at a special session of the Board on Aug. 27, 7 p.m. at the Wiggins Town Hall.